From "Renegade, the war horse, the spear, and the Tomahawk chant," Harbaugh has an outsiders' appreciation for the Florida State program he wants to experience firsthand.

Harbaugh got chills describing FSU's...

]]>Wed, 7 Dec 2016 15:20:00 PSTAll-ACC Heisman ballot proves just how far SEC has fallenmike bianchihttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-fsu-dalvin-cook-heisman-mike-bianchi-1208-20161207-column.html
Earlier this week as I was filling out my Heisman Trophy ballot, which may or may not have included FSU's electric tailback Dalvin Cook, it struck me just how underrated the ACC is as a conference and how overrated the SEC is.

Although Heisman voters aren't permitted to reveal their ballots until...

]]>Wed, 7 Dec 2016 14:51:00 PSTDeshaun Watson's mom built foundation that changed Tigers star's lifebrian schmitzhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-sp-acc-deshaun-watson-brian-schmitz-1204-20161203-column.html
Like other kids, Deshaun Watson promised his mom he'd buy her a new house when he made it in the NFL.

Watson indeed became a star quarterback. He led the No. 3 Clemson Tigers to a 42-35 victory against Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game Saturday night in Orlando. He'll leave school early...

]]>Sat, 3 Dec 2016 21:37:00 PSTFSU scores win over Minnesota in ACC-Big Ten ChallengeSafid Deenhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-sp-fsu-hoops-1129-20161128-story.html
Florida State men's basketball fans could not help but rise to their feet after the most entertaining stretch of the season.

First, 7-foot-6 center Christ Koumadje's block that led to a wide open dunk for fellow sophomore Dwayne Bacon in transition.

Then, freshman guard Trent Forrest threw a no-look...

]]>Mon, 28 Nov 2016 19:11:00 PSTFSU star Dalvin Cook breaks another rushing record during win over UFCurt Weilerhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-sp-fsu-seminoles-news-1127-20161127-story.html
TALLAHASSEE — One week after becoming Florida State's all-time leading rusher, Dalvin Cook broke the program record for most career rushing touchdowns.

The touchdown came on a 17-yard carry in the first quarter. Cook took the carry up the left side, evading Florida defenders to open up the scoring...

]]>Sun, 27 Nov 2016 00:00:00 PSTBobby Bowden just keeps ticking alongDavid Whitleyhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-sp-bobby-bowden-pacemaker-david-whitley-1122-20161121-column.html
Bobby Bowden was rushed to the hospital a few days ago. It might have been the luckiest ride of his life.

Bowden was taking antibiotics that made him ill. When doctors examined him they found a more serious issue.

His heartbeat was way out of whack. Before he knew it, Bowden had a pacemaker and...

]]>Mon, 21 Nov 2016 15:23:00 PSTWhy did FSU lower itself to playing Boston College on a Friday night?mike bianchihttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-sp-mike-bianchi-saturday-circus-1112-20161111-column.html
Running off at the typewriter …

Question for athletic administration at FSU: Why in the world did the Seminoles lower themselves to playing a Friday night game against Boston College? This was an absolute insult and embarrassment to FSU's stature as an elite program.

Burns finished the game with 2.5 sacks, bringing his total to eight — the most sacks by an FSU freshman since Ron Simmons had 12 in 1977.

Walker...

]]>Sat, 19 Nov 2016 18:59:00 PSTDalvin Cook sets FSU mark in blowout winSafid Deenhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-sp-fsu-syracuse-game-story-11192016-story.html
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Dalvin Cook was all smiles, trying to remain humble crediting his Florida State coaches and teammates after the most momentous game in his college football career.

With their help, Cook has become — at least statistically — the best running back in school history.

Cook, a junior...

]]>Sat, 19 Nov 2016 16:05:00 PSTFlorida State receiver Auden Tate works to become game changer for SeminolesCurt Weilerhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-sp-fsu-football-1118-20161117-story.html
TALLAHASSEE — Auden Tate's size has been a game changer for the Florida State football team.

For the sophomore wide receiver though, it's nothing new.

When David Mitchell, Tate's head coach at Tampa Wharton High School, first met the receiver his sophomore year, the eventual four-star prospect...

]]>Thu, 17 Nov 2016 17:45:00 PSTFSU women's hoops falls painfully short of stunning UConnSafid Deenhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-sp-fsu-uconn-1115-20161114-story.html
Even in defeat, Sue Semrau held her hands up high, clapping at the Florida State fans in attendance.

The FSU women's basketball team, with aspirations of reaching the Final Four this season, was so close to its biggest win in school history.

Guard Brittany Brown missed the last of three free throws,...

]]>Mon, 14 Nov 2016 18:49:00 PSTFlorida State hoops shakes off slow start, rolls past Charleston SouthernCurt Weilerhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-sp-state-hoops-1113-20161112-story.html
TALLAHASSEE ― The Florida State basketball team bounced back from a slow start to dispose of Charleston Southern 88-67 in the Seminoles' season opener Saturday.

It may have been a balanced offensive attack for FSU, with all 11 players who entered the game registering at least two points, but the...

The interception was McFadden's seventh of the season, the most in the nation, and marked his fourth consecutive game with a pick. Additionally,...

]]>Sun, 6 Nov 2016 00:00:00 PDTJimbo Fisher upset by hits leveled on FSU QB Deondre FrancoisSafid Deenhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-fsu-football-1101-20161031-story.html
Jimbo Fisher says he has never had a quarterback take as many hits as Deondre Francois has in his first season as a starter.

Fisher on Monday called for college football to employ "severe penalties" — similar to chop-block penalties for linemen and targeting calls for defenseless receivers — to...

]]>Mon, 31 Oct 2016 16:55:00 PDTFSU coach Jimbo Fisher should apologize for over-the-top attack of ACC officiatingMike Bianchihttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-fsu-coach-jimbo-clemson-fined-acc-officiating-story.html
Jimbo Fisher should not only pay the $20,000 fine from the Atlantic Coast Conference for lashing out at ACC officials after Saturday's loss to Clemson, he should profusely apologize as well.

As much as I think ACC officiating is awful and as much as I think Jimbo is one of best coaches in college...

After your undying, electrifying, 37-34 victory over Florida State on Saturday night, I’m here to tell say that I was all wrong about you. And sometimes in the sportswriting business, you simply have to put a little salt and pepper on your...

]]>Sat, 29 Oct 2016 21:54:00 PDTFSU preparing for Deshaun Watson, Clemson offensive attackSafid Deenhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-fsu-football-1025-20161025-story.html
The Florida State football team held Clemson's high-powered offense to one of its lowest scoring outputs last season.

But the Seminoles defense isn't hanging its hat on the past.

"Last year doesn't really do much for us, except give us film to watch," junior starting safety Trey Marshall said.

...
]]>Tue, 25 Oct 2016 17:19:00 PDTFlorida State safety Derwin James' status in limbo for Clemson gameCurt Weilerhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-fsu-football-1019-20161018-story.html
The game circled as a potential return date for Florida State safety Derwin James is now less than two weeks away and James' status remains very much in question.

"It's just a time thing. There's no way you can look at it and see," FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said of James' recovery. "Nothing says he...

The line, from left to right, features: Rod Johnson, Kareem Are, Alec Eberle, Landon Dickerson and Brock Ruble. The group will be starting together for the fourth consecutive...

]]>Thu, 13 Oct 2016 18:00:00 PDTSteve Spurrier has a way to solve Gators vs. LSU controversy; Jimbo has a way to fire up FSUMike Bianchihttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-gators-lsu-spurrier-fsu-jimbo-20161011-story.html
Why do the Florida Gators and LSU Tigers even need to make up the game that was postponed by Hurricane Matthew? And did you see FSU coach Jimbo Fisher's inspirational pep talk before the Miami game? Those two questions lead off today's edition of the Bianchi Blast ...

1. Why is everybody making...

]]>Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:23:00 PDTFlorida State, Miami get into scuffle before kickoffhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/florida-state-seminoles/os-fsu-seminoles-news-1009-20161008-story.html
MIAMI GARDENS — Immediately after the coin toss ahead of No. 23 Florida State's game at No. 10 Miami, Hurricanes safety Jamal Carter got in the face of FSU safety Trey Marshall, resulting in both teams facing off on the outskirts of the field.